Certification

IMSA, working closely with the IMSA Educational Foundation, began certification of individuals involved with various public safety activities in 1982. IMSA has issued over 100,000 certificates in public safety. IMSA membership is not a requirement to obtain certification.

The attainment of certification is a means for individuals to indicate to the general public, coworkers, employers, and others that an impartial, nationally-recognized organization has determined that they are qualified to perform specific technical tasks by virtue of their technical knowledge and experiences. Certification also bestows a sense of achievement upon the certified individual since it reflects professional advancement in a chosen field.

Certification can also provide an entry into many job assignments that otherwise would be difficult to obtain, since employers recognize certification as an indication of the individual’s ability to do specific job tasks without the need for on-the-job training.